A 33-year-old Spanish sailor lost his life yesterday afternoon at the Malta Freeport when he was struck by a lifeboat during a safety drill being carried out on board a Portuguese-registered container ship.

Two other sailors, another Spaniard and a Portuguese national from the same ship, were also slightly injured during the incident. The injured parties, also 33 years of age, were briefly hospitalised and treated for their injuries.

The incident took place at 1.45 yesterday afternoon and attracted ambulances and a helicopter to the scene, according to witnesses.

Speaking to The Malta Independent yesterday afternoon, the ship's local agents said that the exact details of how the incident happened were still somewhat sketchy, and they preferred not to hypothesise prematurely.

A magisterial inquiry was under way yesterday afternoon, led by Magistrate Dennis Montebello with the assistance of various experts.